I think this is an excellent illustration of why a real-life teacher is so useful. It's much easier to accept the (standard) approach you are expounding when it comes from a real-life teacher that one has confidence in than from an internet forum (no reflection on you personally, of course )pink_trike wrote: Sounds like information overload - it's a dis-ease of modern culture. So much to read. So much to talk about. You could go a a whole life time just talking and reading...
When I stepped onto the path, teachers advocated PRACTICE. Study came later...usually much later. After a student had settled into a committed practice, then sutras were generally given to them one at a time...one sutra was studied for an extended period of time, while continuing with a committed practice...before another sutra was introduced.
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Personally, I took up practise because I was impressed by the monks at my Wat, and wanted to be happier (like them). Over the (relatively few) years it has become clear how deep their knowledge actually is. It takes a while because they are careful not to tell me too much about things that I have not experienced. Every so often I have a (minor) breakthrough, which always turns out to be old news to them...
Of course, it's trickier if you are working without a teacher. I would echo the advice to stick to some simple instructions from a reputable teacher for some time (measured in months or years), rather than seek out too many alternatives and risk confusion.
Metta
Mike